Lent 2018 Devotional: Day Thirty-Seven

"The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward." --Isaiah 50:5

Sometimes we might get a strong hint from God that draws in a particular way, but it does not make sense to us at the time. So we resist it. This resistance may have genuine validity. For one thing, discerning what is from God and what is from our own desires is tricky business. (This is where trusted spiritual friends, communication with God, and faithful community can help.) Or we may recognize the call as valid, but don't see how we can live it. It might mean giving something up, or challenging other people in a scary way. Trusting God is hard. But when God opens our ear, we have a chance to listen.

Has God opened your ear about a challenging area of your life, or the life of your community? What would it mean to not turn backward?

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